Ruidoso holds off Lady Rams for split

April 22, 2006

PNT staff

RUIDOSO — The Portales Lady Rams’ rally fell short Friday night, and now they’ll probably have to sweep rival Lovington on the road next Thursday to win the District 4-3A regular-season softball title.

Portales (14-8, 4-2 district) pounded 15 hits in the opener of Friday’s twin bill in a 9-3 win over the Lady Warriors, but Ruidoso built a 6-1 lead and took the nightcap 6-5, surviving a four-run Lady Rams sixth that included Jessica Adkins’ two-run homer.

PHS coach Robbie Crowley said she believed Adkins’ homer to be only the second out-of-the-park shot in the program’s history. Antoinette Urioste had the other one four years ago at Santa Teresa.

Amanda Terry and Vicki Huber were both 3-for-5 in Portales’ first-game win. Huber and Janette Spotswood each hit a pair of RBI singles.

Portales jumped in front 5-1 in the second inning, then put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth. Junior Sasha Parker earned a complete-game win, allowing three hits with four walks and nine strikeouts.

In the second game, the Lady Rams outhit Ruidoso 11-5, but six errors helped turn the tide in favor of the Lady Warriors.

Spotswood, Danielle Vasquez, Sara Silva and Kacee Quick all had a pair of hits for the Lady Rams. Parker finished with no walks and five strikeouts.

“I thought Sasha responded really well,” Crowley said. “She pitched two really good games, and she was positive — she tried to keep the other kids up.”

The Lady Rams run-ruled Ruidoso by scores of 10-0 and 12-2 in the teams’ earlier matchup in Portales.

Portales travels to Lovington on Thursday for a 4 p.m. twin bill. The teams split on Tuesday at Portales, with the Lady Wildcats taking the second game 10-6 after Parker shut them out 3-0 in the opener.